Anaheim Ducks vs Philadelphia Flyers Picks and Predictions December 28th 2024

Anaheim Ducks vs Philadelphia Flyers December 28th 2024

Betting on today’s Flyers and Ducks game? Catch the action at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA, as the Ducks hosts this showdown at 4:00 ET on NBCS. In this non-conference matchup, the Flyers are favored by -1.5 vs. the Ducks. The over/under for the game is 6 goals.

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Philadelphia vs. Anaheim Key Information

• Teams: Flyers at Ducks
• Where: Honda Center Anaheim
• Date: Saturday, December 28th
• Betting Odds PHI -144 | ANA +123 O/U 6

The Flyers Can Win If…

With a 3-0 loss to the Bruins, the Flyers dropped to 15-16-4 this season. Philadelphia entered the game as underdogs on the puck line, and the total was set at 6.5 goals. The combined score of 3 goals fell well short of the total.

All three of Boston’s goals came in consecutive periods, with the Flyers failing to find the net. Philadelphia’s defense struggled, allowing the Bruins to score their first goal at 6:32 in the opening period.

Philadelphia’s offense was shut out in their 3-0 loss to Boston, managing 20 shots on goal but failing to find the net. The Flyers had 15 giveaways and were unable to capitalize on any of their opportunities.

After a scoreless first period, the Flyers were blanked again in the second and third. This marks the first time this season that Philadelphia has been shut out.

Defensively, the Flyers gave up the first goal at 13:28 in the first period and another at 11:23 in the second. They were still within striking distance late in the third, but an empty-netter at 16:21 sealed the game. The Flyers’ defense finished with 5 takeaways and 30 hits, while Samuel Ersson made 8 saves with a 100% save percentage.

• Over their last three regular season games, the Flyers have gone 1-2 straight up. In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 0-3 and an over-under mark of 3-0.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Philadelphia has a record of 3-7. In these contests, the team went just 3-7 against the spread, while going 7-2-1 on the over-under.

The Ducks Can Win If…

Anaheim dropped to 13-16-4 after a 4-2 road loss to the Blackhawks. The Ducks were favored on the puck line, but failed to cover. The total was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 6 goals fell just short of that mark.

The Ducks found themselves trailing 3-0 before finally getting on the board in the third period. Brock McGinn scored the first goal for Anaheim at 9:44 in the third, and Mason McTavish added another with just 4 seconds remaining.

Anaheim took 39 shots on goal but only managed to score twice in their 4-2 loss to Chicago. Brock McGinn netted his second goal of the season, while Mason McTavish followed with his own second goal, which came on a power play with just four seconds left in the game.

The Ducks were held scoreless until the 9:44 mark of the third period. Ryan Strome picked up his fourth assist of the season, and Troy Terry added his fifth assist on McTavish’s late power-play goal. Anaheim also recorded 16 giveaways in the game.

Defensively, the Ducks will need to improve after giving up the first three goals in their last game against Chicago, including two on the power play. Lukas Dostal made 25 saves with a save percentage of 86.2%. The Ducks’ defense finished with 6 takeaways and 15 hits.

• Over their last three regular season games, the Ducks have gone 1-2 straight up. Against the spread, Anaheim went 1-2 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Anaheim has put together a record of 3-7 in their last ten games (regular season). Their record vs the puck line sits at 5-5 in these matchups, while posting a 3-6-1 over-under mark.

The Lean

When it comes to a moneyline wager, I’m going with the Ducks to defeat the Flyers while playing at home. Given the current moneyline odds at +123, I’m placing a wager on the Ducks to win outright.

Our projections have the Ducks pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Ducks, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to cover the puck line.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 6 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.

Daily NHL Picks & Predictions

Generous Flyers Aim to Tighten Up Defensively vs. Ducks

After a brief holiday break, the Philadelphia Flyers and Anaheim Ducks are set to face off Saturday in Anaheim, each looking to overcome recent struggles and regain momentum. Both teams have experienced defensive lapses and inconsistent performances, setting the stage for a matchup that could serve as a turning point for their respective seasons.

Flyers: Seeking Stability Amid Struggles

The Flyers enter the game after a tough stretch, losing four of their last five contests. Their most recent defeat, a 7-3 drubbing by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, was marked by a disastrous first period where they conceded four goals. Such slow starts have become a troubling pattern.

“We’ve had some slow starts, but when we do the right things, we’re really hard to play against,” said winger Noah Cates, emphasizing the team’s need for consistency.

Philadelphia has allowed a staggering 28 goals during their current 1-4-0 skid, exposing significant defensive vulnerabilities. Coach John Tortorella acknowledged the team’s need for improvement, remarking, “It was a little bit of everything. We get back, we try to get better.”

One player under the spotlight is rookie Matvei Michkov, who has struggled offensively, going scoreless in his last eight games and posting a minus-11 rating over his last five contests. Once a vital contributor to the power play, Michkov is now searching for a way to recapture his early-season form.

“‘Mich’ has leveled off,” Tortorella admitted. “It’s been a bit of a struggle for him. He continues to work at it.”

Despite their defensive woes, the Flyers have managed a respectable 108 goals this season. Their challenge lies in preventing opponents from capitalizing on errors, especially in the early stages of games.

Ducks: Battling Scoring Droughts and Costly Errors

The Anaheim Ducks have also faced their share of difficulties, losing two of their last three games. Even in their lone victory—a 5-4 shootout win over the Utah Hockey Club—they had to overcome a 4-2 third-period deficit. The momentum from that win failed to carry over, as the Ducks fell 3-1 to the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday, marking their seventh loss in the last 10 games (3-6-1).

Coach Greg Cronin praised his team’s effort, saying, “I love the effort. I thought we competed hard,” but acknowledged that mistakes, particularly in high-pressure moments, continue to cost the team.

The Ducks have scored a league-low 82 goals this season, struggling to generate consistent offensive pressure. This lack of scoring support puts added pressure on their defense and goaltending.

Goaltenders John Gibson and Lukas Dostal have been the backbone of the Ducks’ defense. However, Gibson’s availability is uncertain after he took a high stick near his eye in Monday’s game. Despite this setback, the Ducks fought valiantly, with Dostal stepping in and keeping the game competitive until the final minutes.

Veteran defenseman Radko Gudas highlighted the team’s resilience: “The boys left everything out there. We gave it our all. Unfortunately, we had some costly mistakes, and they made us pay. They’re an experienced team, and they made us pay for those mistakes.”

Key Matchup Dynamics

Both teams’ defensive records reveal where the game could be decided. The Flyers have allowed 130 goals this season, the third-highest total in the league. The Ducks, while more stable defensively with 103 goals conceded, face significant challenges in offensive production.

The Flyers will look to capitalize on their superior scoring ability, while the Ducks will aim to exploit Philadelphia’s defensive lapses. This is the first meeting between the teams this season, with a rematch scheduled in Philadelphia on Jan. 11.

What to Watch For

1. Flyers’ Start: Will Philadelphia address their slow starts and avoid another early deficit?
2. Michkov’s Response: Can the rookie bounce back and deliver the offensive spark his team needs?
3. Ducks’ Offense: With the league’s lowest goal tally, Anaheim must find ways to generate scoring opportunities against a shaky Flyers defense.
4. Goaltender Duel: If Gibson is unavailable, Dostal’s performance could be crucial in keeping the Ducks competitive.

Final Thoughts

This game offers both teams a chance to recalibrate after recent struggles. For the Flyers, improving defensive cohesion and maintaining focus from the opening whistle will be critical. The Ducks, meanwhile, must address their scoring woes and limit costly errors to stay in contention.

With both teams desperate to reverse their fortunes, Saturday’s matchup promises to be a hard-fought battle between two teams striving for consistency and momentum.